Peak body National Disability Services (NDS) will work with the incoming Labor government to ensure that the NDIS fulfills the original promise of the scheme and addresses the many concerns that have been raised recently about the NDIS.
NDS CEO Laurie Leigh said the election campaign period has seen repeated stories of NDIS participants whose plans have been drastically cut without sufficient explanation.
“The ALP has promised to introduce an Expert Review that will guarantee plans are not being unfairly reduced and we look forward to seeing that process deliver greater certainty and transparency for NDIS participants and service providers,” said Laurie Leigh.
The ALP has also made a key commitment to include service providers as part of NDIS co-design processes, along with people with disability, their families and carers, and workers.
“NDS welcomes the ALP’s commitment to the inclusion of service providers in NDIS co-design. This is a crucial step to ensuring a better scheme that works for everyone, and we look forward to our members participating in these co-design processes,” said Laurie Leigh.
“Labor has also committed to a review of NDIS pricing. However, this commitment falls short of the independent pricing mechanism that disability service providers need for a fairer system.”
Disability employment has been a key issue this week with the closure of Activ worksites in WA leaving more than 700 people with disability facing redundancy.
“NDS is pleased to see the ALP commitment to establish a Centre for Excellence in Disability Employment and expects the centre will assist with the planning needed for a properly managed transition in disability employment,” said Laurie Leigh.
NDS has developed an Industry Vision for Supported Employment to guide Disability Enterprises through full transition into the NDIS and has been seeking federal government support to assist the sector with the transition process.
“It is now more starkly clear than ever that this transition process must be actively managed in the best interests of the supported employees as well as the future sustainability of disability employment providers across Australia,” Laurie Leigh said.
“NDS will be taking the earliest opportunity to meet with the Albanese government and will seek concrete actions to get the transition process for supported employment on track.”
